Hospice needs your help

Hospice volunteer Gene Wray visits with Robert Howington at Hospice in Cleveland County.

By Jackie Bridges / Staff Writer

Published: Thursday, March 13, 2014 at 01:05 AM.

Gene Wray was reluctant to become a Hospice volunteer, even though his wife, Priscilla, has been a Hospice volunteer since 1986.

"She urged me to come to the training session," Wray said.

He also found out from Krista Haynes, patient/family volunteer coordinator, that male volunteers are needed to visit with male patients. He still held out, because he didn't know if he could handle being around people who are at the end of life. Finally, his wife's experience and his own willingness to serve other people changed his mind.

"I worked in the rescue squad and saw a lot of things," he said. "I want to help people - to do anything I can to help someone."

Volunteers like Wray are asked to visit a patient once a month and have some sort of weekly contact with the patient, Haynes said, but most visit each week.

"It doesn't take much to give up one hour a week or one hour a month to be a friendly face," Haynes said.

Wray, a genealogy buff, enjoys talking with the patients at Wendover about their family history. He also talks to veterans about their military service. He has a patient he is assigned to visit, and he also visits other patients at Wendover.

"It means a lot to me to have somebody to come in and talk with me," said Robert Howington, the Hospice patient Wray visits every week.

In the six weeks that Wray has visited with Howington, he has learned about his family. His parents moved to North Carolina before he was born and he grew up working in the cotton fields. Howington never married and took care of his mother until she died.

The patients Wray doesn't know as well, he starts by asking them, "How are you today?" he said.

He asks about their career, hobbies and interests. If the patient is quiet and doesn't talk much, Wray keeps the visit short.

He learned what to talk about and other things a volunteer needs to know in the Hospice Volunteer training class, Haynes said.

Volunteers are needed to serve in all areas, including assisting in the office or at one of the inpatient/residential facilities. Other special needs are for beauticians and therapy dogs, Haynes said.

Want to help?

Hospice training is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about Hospice care and the services provided to the community. This 12-hour course is free and there is no obligation to volunteer. The classes will be held at Hospice Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby.

Morning and evening sessions will be offered: March 17, 18 and 20, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or 5:30-9:30 p.m.

To get credit for the entire course, you will need to attend all days at one of the times offered. Hospice Cleveland County offers a number of opportunities for volunteer involvement, including direct contact with patients/families, assisting in the office, or at one of the inpatient/residential facilities.

For more information or to register, call Krista Haynes, Patient/Family volunteer coordinator, at 704-751-3547 or visit www.hospicecares.cc

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Gene Wray was reluctant to become a Hospice volunteer, even though his wife, Priscilla, has been a Hospice volunteer since 1986.

"She urged me to come to the training session," Wray said.

He also found out from Krista Haynes, patient/family volunteer coordinator, that male volunteers are needed to visit with male patients. He still held out, because he didn't know if he could handle being around people who are at the end of life. Finally, his wife's experience and his own willingness to serve other people changed his mind.

"I worked in the rescue squad and saw a lot of things," he said. "I want to help people - to do anything I can to help someone."

Volunteers like Wray are asked to visit a patient once a month and have some sort of weekly contact with the patient, Haynes said, but most visit each week.

"It doesn't take much to give up one hour a week or one hour a month to be a friendly face," Haynes said.

Wray, a genealogy buff, enjoys talking with the patients at Wendover about their family history. He also talks to veterans about their military service. He has a patient he is assigned to visit, and he also visits other patients at Wendover.

"It means a lot to me to have somebody to come in and talk with me," said Robert Howington, the Hospice patient Wray visits every week.

In the six weeks that Wray has visited with Howington, he has learned about his family. His parents moved to North Carolina before he was born and he grew up working in the cotton fields. Howington never married and took care of his mother until she died.

The patients Wray doesn't know as well, he starts by asking them, "How are you today?" he said.

He asks about their career, hobbies and interests. If the patient is quiet and doesn't talk much, Wray keeps the visit short.

He learned what to talk about and other things a volunteer needs to know in the Hospice Volunteer training class, Haynes said.

Volunteers are needed to serve in all areas, including assisting in the office or at one of the inpatient/residential facilities. Other special needs are for beauticians and therapy dogs, Haynes said.

Want to help?

Hospice training is open to anyone who is interested in learning more about Hospice care and the services provided to the community. This 12-hour course is free and there is no obligation to volunteer. The classes will be held at Hospice Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby.

Morning and evening sessions will be offered: March 17, 18 and 20, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or 5:30-9:30 p.m.

To get credit for the entire course, you will need to attend all days at one of the times offered. Hospice Cleveland County offers a number of opportunities for volunteer involvement, including direct contact with patients/families, assisting in the office, or at one of the inpatient/residential facilities.

For more information or to register, call Krista Haynes, Patient/Family volunteer coordinator, at 704-751-3547 or visit www.hospicecares.cc